Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. B, 1945. H. J. scULLEN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 13, 1945 INVENTOR. Hugh JI Seu lle n Patented Oct. 30, 1945 REFBIGEBAATING APPARATUS Hugh J. Sculien, Detroit, Mich., assisnor to Nash- Kelvlnator Corporation,

poration of Maryd Detroit, Mich., a corpplication September 18, 1943, Serial No. 502,107

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to refrigerating apparatus of the multiple temperature type.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for freezing substances, and for cooling circulating air in a refrigerator cabinet so as to maintain a relatively high humidity within the cabinet.

Another object 'of my invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus comprising an insulated cabinet divided into a freezing compartment and a food compartment. in. the former of which is disposed a primary refriger ant evaporating element for freezing ice cubes and the like, and in the latter of which are disposed a plurality of secondary refrigerant evaporating elements for cooling the circulating air. A further object oi my invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus comprising a primary refrigerating system having a high side and a low side for freezing large quantities of ice cubes and the like, and a secondary refrigerating system havinga plurality of high tem compartment 28 located within the compartment 22 near the top and midway between the walls thereof. The cabinet is also provided with a machine compartment 2i located below the food compartment 22. Compartment 22 is provided with an opening closed by a door 2S, while compartment 28 is also provided with an opening closed by a door 28. The walls of the cabinet enclosing the food compartment 22 are insulated and include side walls 3b, rear wall 3i, bottom wall Q2 and top wall it; An inner metallio lining member Sli forms the inner walls of the food compartment and is preferably properature refrigerant evaporating elements' for cooling circulating air in the food compartment of the cabinet, said evaporating elements being operatively interconnected by a plurality of refrigerant conveying conduits which are placed in heat exchange relation witha portion of the low side of the primary system.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for the lready remov ability of the aforesaid primary refrigerating system as a unitary structure without disturbing the secondary system.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to theoccompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the dra:

Fig. i is a front vertical view partly in elevation and partly in cross section of a refrigerating apparatus embodying features of my invention;

Fig.. 2 is a side vertical view in cross section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of another portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 2li designates, in general, a cabinet having a compartment 22 for the storage of foods to be refrigerated and a low temperature or freezing 55l vided with a coating of vitreous enamel, such as porcelain, to provide ,a neat appearing compartment and one which may easily be cleaned. The food compartment 22 and freezing compartment 23 are separated by a U-shaped partition member 35 which is preferably composed of a high heat conductive material, such as sheet metal, but which may consist of insulating material, if desired. This partition is secured to the top wall 83 and rear wall 3i. The machine compartment it has an opening at the front of the cabinet which is closed by a movable'door 38 to afford ready access to said compartment. -A vegetable bin Se is attached to the inside of the door 38. The entire cabinet is raised above the level of the iioor by means of legs 4U to allow air from the room to circulate freely through an opening di into the machine compartment and out through an opening 42 at the rear of the com-v pertinent.

Numeral 45 designates, in general, a primary refrigerating system which includes a refrigerant cooling or evaporating element 46 disposed in the freezing compartment .23 and a refrigerant condensing or circulating element B1 disposed in the machine compartment 26. These elements are operatively associated with one another by a small diameter tube 49 and a vapor return conduit lili.A The entire primary refrigerating system is adapted to be removed as a unit v whenever desired, as will be described below.

'I'he evaporating element 46 comprisesJn general, two horizontal sections of "serpentine refrigerant conveying conduits, designated by the numerals l2 and 5.4, respectively. These secrear by suitable means to a removable section 'Il 0f the insulated wall Il. kSection 52 is directly secured by any suitable means to the bottom of the casing while section 84 is directly secured in a similar manner to one of the shelves 51. A conduit 80 connects the two sections in series. The small diameter tube 49 is connected Y to the lower section 52 while section I4 is contion, the latter being the one illustrated. Air

from the room circulates through the opening 4I over the condensing unit and out through the opening 42 at the rear of the machine compartment. A flue, not shown, may be provided on the rear wall of the cabinet for enhancing the natural convection effect as is well known in the art.

In operation, the compressor withdraws evaporated refrigerant from the evaporating element through the vapor conduit 88, compresses the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to the condenser 88 wherein it is liquefied and from which it is delivered in liquid form to the evaporator 48 through the small diameter tube 49. This tube is of proper dimensions to meter the quantity of liquid refrigerant flowing from the condensing element to the evaporating element during entire operation of the system. The charge of refrigerant in the system is preferably such that liquid refrigerant is supplied insufficient quantities to the evaporator 48 so that during normal operation of the system some liquid refrigerant reaches the accumulating element 8l. The vapor return conduit 80 connecting the accumulating element with the condensing unit is preferably arranged in intimate heat exchange relation with the small diameter tube 48.' 'I'he compressor is preferably controlled to operate intermittently in accordance with the temperature conditions within'the refrigerator cabinet by a. heat responsive switch in the usual manner. 'I'he temperature of the l evaporating element 48 is maintained at a value sumciently lowu to effect rapid freezing of ice cubes and the like. and also to maintain freezing temperatures throughout the freesing compartment. A metallic sleeve like member 88 is prof vided for storing frozen foods below the casing 88. A resilient sealing member 88 is disposed between the casing 38 andthe front edgesl of the casing 88 and sleeve member 88 to prevent circulation of air between the interior of the refrigerator and the walls thereof.

Numeral 10 designates, in general,`asecondary refrlgerating system which is adapted to maintain the/food compartment 22 at a relatively high and uniform refrigerating temperature and at a relatively high humidity so that little dehydration of the foods stored therein is accomplished. 'I'he secondary refrlgerating system includes s. pair of evaporating elementsl designated, lin general.g

ranged in a vertical plane and provided with vertically extending nus 8l and 82, respectively, which are secured to the serpentine conduits in intimate heat exchange relation. The evaporating elementsare disposed on opposite sides of the freezing compartment adjacent the rear wall of the food compartment and are secured to the rear wall. They are connected by the refrigerant conveying conduits 18 and 18. Conduit 18 connects the top of element 12 with the bottom of element 14 while conduit 18 connects the top vof element 14 with the bottom of element 12.

These connecting conduits 18 and 18 are arranged so that intermediate portions lI8 and 84, respec tively, thereof lie in a horizontal plane parallel to each other at or above the level of the topmost part of the evaporating elements. It is these portions which serve as condensing elements of the secondary system by being placed in heat exchange relation with the cylindrical accumulating element 8| of the primary system. 'I'he portions 82 and 84 are nrmly secured as by soldering to-a split sheet metal cylindrical clamping element 88 which is adapted to be removably secured in direct contact therewith to the accumulating element by means of bolts 88.

In operation, refrigerant evaporated in the cooling element 12 circulates through the condensing portion. of conduit 18 intoheat exchangerelation with the accumulator where it is condensed. It is then delivered as a liquid to the bottom of cooling element 14. The liquid circulates upwardly through the latter and is converted at least partially into a gas. The rev sulting mixture is conveyed by conduit 18 through, the condensing portion 88 into heat exchange relation with the' accumulator where `condensation of evaporated refrigerant takes place. The liquefied refrigerant is then delivered to the evaporating element 12. The temperature differential maintained betweenv vthe primary evaporator and the secondary evaporators may be controlled by adjusting the rate of heat exchange between the accumulator 8l and the cylindrical clampingmember 88. Preferably, the temperature of the secondary evaporating elements 12'and 14. that is, on the surface of the fins, is maintained above freezing most ofthe,

time so that frost does not form permanently thereon. Any moisture which collects on the cooling elements 12 and 14 may be drained into pans (not shown) .l A pan 88 is provided below the freezing compartment for collecting any wa- ,V .ter formed on the outside surface of the parti-` ,ment 4 1. the evaporating element 48, the liquid accumulator 8 I and the removable insulating member 88. The small diameter tube 48 and vapor return conduit 88 both extend to the evaporator from the condensing unit through the insulating member 88. A recess is provided in the insulating member for the accumulator and the interconnecting conduits 18 and 18. To remove the primary system, it is only necessary to release the clamping element 88. Then the entire primary structure may be drawn rearward from the cabinet, the evaporator sliding through the opening at the rear of the freezingA compartment and the condensersliding out the rear of the machine compartment. y

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described'in detail, it will be apparent to those` skilled in the art that various modiiications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention 'or from the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

i Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet having inner andouter casings, insulation between said casings, said inner casing forming a food storage compartment, a partitioning casing positioned in said inner casing to form a freezing zone, a refrigerant evaporating element positioned within the confines of said partitioning casing and including an accumulator of cylindrical formation positioned outside of said partitioning casing and at the rear thereof and in a pocket formed in said insulation, and a'sec-v ondary refrigerating system including a removable clamping member surrounding said accumulator, a secondary condenser in contact with saidclamping member and two sections of refrigerant evaporating elements one of which is positioned in the food storage compartment between one side ofthe inner casing and said partitioning casing and the other section is positioned in said food storage compartment between 

